Vidalia softball All-Stars win shootout

Published 12:55 am Sunday, July 18, 2010

JONESBORO, La. — For the second straight game, the Vidalia 13-14-year-old All-Stars put up at least 20 runs on their opposition at the Louisiana Little League 13-14-year-old State Tournament.

But unlike its 20-0 win over Blanchard, Vidalia needed that kind of offensive production as it held on for a 22-14 win over Jackson Parish in a game that started late Saturday afternoon and didn’t end until three and a half hours later.

Vidalia scored four runs in each of the first two innings and three more runs in the top of the third inning to what appeared to be a commanding 11-0 lead. However, Jackson Parish not only made sure it would not be 10-run-ruled, it got back in the game as well.

Email newsletter signup

“We were up 11-0 going into the (bottom of the) third inning. They scored four runs and they kept scoring,” Vidalia 13-14-year-old All-Stars coach Tommy Milligan said. “It seemed like every time we would score, they would score.”

Vidalia scored one run over the next two innings while Jackson Parish scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and two runs in the bottom of the fifth and just like that Vidalia’s lead was just 12-9.

“I give my team credit. They never got frustrated. They did what they needed to do to win the game,” Milligan said. “We had a three- or four-inning stretch where we got a little shook up.”

Each team scored five runs in the sixth inning, but Vidalia finally put the game out of reach by plating five runs in the top of the seventh inning. Karlee Woodruff, who was credited for the save, held Jackson Parish scoreless in the bottom of the seventh.

Taylor Rodgers was the winning pitcher and she helped her own cause by going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple. Speaking of helping her own cause, Woodruff did so in a big way by going 3-for-6 with a double and a triple. Mackenzie Watts did quite well at the plate as she went 3-for-5 with three doubles. As a team, Vidalia had 18 hits and took advantage of seven Jackson Parish errors.

“As far as hitting the ball, we put the ball in play a lot. We put the pressure on them,” Milligan said. “They made several throwing errors.”

The Vidalia 13-14-year-old All-Stars will take on the winner of the Jackson Parish-Blanchard game Monday at 6 p.m.

Vidalia 11-12s win state tournament opening game Friday

LAKE CHARLES, La. — The Vidalia 11-12-year-old All-Stars got off to a good start at the Louisiana Little League 11-12-year-old State Tournament as they rallied to defeat host Lake Charles 14-7 in seven innings.

The Vidalia 11-12s trailed 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Elizabeth Smith made an outstanding defensive play. After a base hit to right field, she picked up a ground ball and threw to first base to end the inning.

“That was big,” Vidalia coach Brent Smith said.

Vidalia scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-5 lead before Lake Charles rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 7-7 game. Lake Charles would have won the game in the home half of the sixth had it not been for another great defensive play by Vidalia.

“They had a runner on third. Our second baseman, Cassie Gonzales, caught the ball and threw it home. Abi Brown blocked the plate and made the tag at home plate,” Smith said.

Vidalia scored seven runs in the top of the seventh and Tiffany Weeks came in to pitch a scoreless bottom of the seventh.

Vidalia was scheduled to take on Jackson Parish at 7 p.m. Saturday, but that game was pushed back a couple of hours due to rain.

Vidalia 9-10 All-Stars state tournament game rained out

SHREVEPORT, La. — Inclement weather Saturday afternoon forced many games at the Louisiana Little League 9-10-year-old State Tournament to be postponed.

One of the games that was postponed was the Vidalia 9-10-year-old All-Stars against host Shreveport. That game has been rescheduled for today and, weather permitting, will start at 7 p.m.